Hamas Withdraws Permanent Ceasefire Proposal
White House "Negotiations to Resume Soon"
Israel Calls It "Unrealistic"
'Biden Red Line' Pushes Advance on Rafah
The Palestinian armed faction Hamas has presented a new ceasefire proposal for the Gaza Strip, revealing differences of opinion between the United States and Israel.
On the 15th (local time), the New York Times (NYT) reported that Hamas's new proposal involves the Israeli military gradually withdrawing from the Gaza Strip while exchanging Israeli hostages for Palestinian detainees.
According to major foreign media, Hamas demanded that the first exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees set a deadline for the Israeli military's withdrawal from Gaza, followed by an agreement on a date for a permanent ceasefire.
This is interpreted as a retreat from Hamas's previous demand that an immediate permanent ceasefire be agreed upon in exchange for starting the hostage and detainee exchange.
The NYT reported that in Hamas's new proposal, the first phase involves releasing 35 Israeli male hostages and 5 female hostages. For each male hostage, 10 Palestinian detainees must be released, and for each female hostage, 50 detainees must be freed. The plan also includes the Israeli military withdrawing to central Gaza, allowing some displaced persons to return home.
The second phase involves a further cessation of hostile actions (combat) and additional releases of Palestinian detainees. In the final third phase, Hamas would hand over the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages, and Israel would ease the blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Regarding Hamas's new proposal, the U.S. White House welcomed it and announced that ceasefire negotiations in Doha, Qatar, would soon resume. John Kirby, White House National Security Communications Coordinator, judged that this proposal aligns with the framework agreed upon at last month's four-party meeting (Israel, the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt) held in Paris, France.
Kirby cautiously expressed optimism, saying, "I am cautiously optimistic that things are moving in a positive direction," but added, "the devil is in the details," showing a careful stance.
However, Israel's response was different. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office stated that the proposal remains an "unrealistic demand." Israel, aiming for the complete destruction of Hamas, rejects any agreement that would end the military operation in the Gaza Strip. Nevertheless, some Israeli officials viewed Hamas's new proposal more positively than before.
Additionally, local media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the Israeli military's operational plan in the southernmost Gaza city of Rafah. Since over one million displaced persons are concentrated in Rafah, Israel is reportedly preparing plans to evacuate them.
Recently, U.S. President Joe Biden, in a media interview, defined a large-scale ground operation that could cause significant civilian casualties in Rafah as a "red line" (an act that would incur consequences if carried out despite warnings) and urged Israel to exercise restraint.
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